Frederick Moonfall

'Since when do alchemists dare to attack us warlocks?', Frederick thought

Without hesitation, he dismissed the council of elders and intermediate acolytes. In his eyes, they were all talking nonsense. They were amazed by Drake's actions, and they all felt guilt about what happened to Drake, but in the end, they were powerless.

With the birth of a peak rank acolyte in the Elderwood Household, the royal family would not risk losing their support and would even support them, if only to spite us. Ever since I stole their [Elderwood Branch] high-grade artefact, the royal family has been afraid of the Moonfall development.

After all, the royal family only had three magi and they would not attack fellow magus households due to the runic formations capable of elevating a peak rank acolyte to the level of a magus. Frederick Moonfall was invincible in the ivory tower, at least against regular magi. And that was precisely the reason why the royal family supported the Elderwood household.

However, the patriarch was not one to let injustices go unpunished.

Taking out a magic crystal, he activated a formation that allowed him to communicate with an old friend.

"Witch Karya...You remember this favour that you owe me, right?", Frederick spoke in a commanding voice, "I want you to assassinate the Count and the beginner rank acolytes of the Elderwood family"

Silence followed, before the witch broke it: "It seems like your hands are truly tied this time, huh...If it were ten years ago, you would have attacked them regardless of warnings. It seems like the passage of time tamed you...Or perhaps it is you who tamed that bloodline of yours. I will do what you asked me, not just because I owe you a favour, but because they committed a true injustice to your heir"

"My heir?", the patriarch said in a low voice, "He will never inherit the household, his bloodline purity is too low"

The witch smiled, as if she knew: "Kukukuku, even with a low bloodline purity, he managed to create a storm in the Porfield Kingdom far bigger than any of us could have hoped to. I have seen the battle, and he single-handedly defeated five beginner rank acolytes, as well as three of the [Seven Great Swords] of the Elderwood Household. And more importantly, eight hundred elderwood soldiers lost their lives in a single battle, even though they successfully ambushed him. Even if he is not from the main family branch, this boy of yours is a conqueror...Well, whether he will use this experience as fuel to grow or be crippled, only time will tell"

A week later, the count and 5 acolytes from the Elderwood Household suddenly aged, and eventually died. They had been cursed to death, and even though the household specialized in alchemy, no remedy was effective in solving their symptoms.

News spread even faster.

Every single force that had taken part in the Pink Snow Battle had been killed. The only survivor was the one who was at the centre of all talks: Drake Moonfall, who had disappeared.